CHAPTER 123: LEAVING

Hailee POV

"Please send each video to them tomorrow... not today," I whispered, my heart breaking.

Lila nodded quickly, her own eyes brimming with tears. "I promise," she murmured. Her throat bobbed as if the words burned inside her.

I turned away, unable to face the agony etched across her face. My hands shook as I pushed myself up from the bed. I reached for the small pile of folded clothes on the chair and began to change.

The soft rustle of fabric filled the silence as I slipped out of my old clothes and pulled on the dress I had chosen. It wasn’t anything extravagant—just a simple navy-blue dress that fell to my knees, its sleeves brushing lightly against my arms. I smoothed the fabric down my front, swallowing against the lump in my throat. In the mirror across the room, my reflection looked back at me: pale, tired, broken...

Behind me, Lila’s voice wavered. "You look beautiful, Hailee... but I wish it wasn’t for this reason."

I blinked hard, forcing back the flood of tears that threatened to undo me again. My lips curved into the faintest, saddest smile. "Thank you, Lila."

Grabbing my bag from the floor, I zipped it up with trembling hands and set it by the door.

I turned to Lila and noticed she was trembling, her hands twisting in her lap as though she wanted to stop me by force but didn’t know how.

I took a shaky breath and stepped closer, my bag resting by the door like a silent reminder that I had no more time left. My throat ached with unshed tears.

"Lila..." My voice cracked, and I reached for her hand, squeezing it tight. "Thank you. For everything—for standing by me when no one else did, for being my sister when blood couldn’t. You’ve been my safe place."

Her lips trembled as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. "And you’ve been mine. Hailee, I don’t know how to do this without you. You’ve always been here. You’ve always been... you."

I pulled her into a hug, crushing her against me as though I could imprint her warmth into my soul. My body shook with silent sobs. "I’ll miss you so much," I whispered into her hair. "Every single day. But I need you to stay happy."

She shook her head fiercely against my shoulder. "How can I? Hailee. You were my best friend."

More tears spilled down my cheek, and we pulled apart slowly, our hands still clinging together like neither of us could let go.

"Promise me you’ll keep living," I pleaded, brushing the tears from her face with trembling fingers. "Study hard. Laugh. Don’t let my absence be a shadow over your life. I’ll call you once I settle down."

"Please do." she whispered hoarsely, though her tears betrayed the struggle in her heart.

A sudden knock sounded at the door, and my heart stopped.

Peter was here.

The air grew heavy with reality. I squeezed Lila’s hand one last time, memorizing the feel of her fingers laced through mine, before I let go.

"Goodbye, Lila." My voice trembled, but I forced the words out, knowing this was the last time.

"Goodbye, Hailee," she whispered back, her voice breaking as another sob slipped free.

The door creaked open, and Peter’s tall figure filled the doorway, his eyes landing on me immediately.

He narrowed his eyes at me but didn’t say a word. Rather, one of the men who had come with him picked up my bag from at the door and left. Peter stepped into the room, his voice gentle in a way that made my stomach twist.

"You’re ready," he said softly, almost tenderly, as though this were a reunion instead of a prison sentence. "Good. You look... presentable, Hailee."

My throat tightened, but I forced a nod. "Yes, Peter."

He didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he reached out and brushed his fingers over my arm, the touch deceptively calm. "Don’t be afraid," he murmured, his tone like silk wrapped around iron. "Everything will be as it should."

I swallowed hard, my skin crawling under his touch, but I stayed silent.

"Come," he said, tilting his head toward the hallway. "The Jet is waiting."

I glanced back at Lila one last time. She was clutching her shirt, her eyes red and swollen, silently screaming all the words she couldn’t say aloud. My chest ached, but I forced myself to turn away and follow Peter.

We moved through the narrow hallway, his presence close beside me like a shadow I couldn’t shake. At the bottom of the stairs, my mother stood in the sitting room, her hands clasped tightly together. Her face was pale, but she tried to hold herself steady as our eyes met.

"Hailee," she whispered, her voice trembling.

I gave her the faintest smile, though my heart was breaking. "Mother."

Peter’s hand pressed lightly at the small of my back, urging me forward. One of the men who had carried my bag was already outside, waiting by the sleek black SUV parked at the curb.

The air outside was heavy, suffocating. The SUV gleamed under the afternoon sun, its tinted windows reflecting my own pale face back at me. My legs felt like lead as Peter guided me toward it, every step echoing like the closing of a door I could never reopen.

Mother slipped into another car while Peter led me to the one I would share with him.

When the rear door was opened for me, I glanced back once more. Lila stood at the threshold, her lips trembling as she gripped the doorframe like it was the only thing holding her upright.

I swallowed hard, forcing the words out before they caught in my throat.

"Goodbye."

Then I ducked into the car. The door shut with a final, echoing thud.

The SUV rolled forward, carrying me away from everything I loved.

The SUV glided down the street, the world outside blurring past the tinted glass. My chest felt tight, like every beat of my heart was a hammer against my ribs.

Then it happened.

The shrill buzz of my cellphone shattered the suffocating silence. I flinched, fumbling as I pulled it from my bag. My breath caught in my throat when I saw the name glowing on the screen.

Nathan.

My vision blurred with tears. My thumb hovered over the screen, desperate to hear his voice just once, to pretend I still had a choice.

But then Peter’s gaze slid to me from across the seat. Concerned but also warning. That single look told me everything: Don’t you dare.

I trembled under his eyes. My throat burned as tears spilled freely, dripping onto my lap. With shaking hands, I unlocked the phone, staring at Nathan’s name one last time. The screen pulsed with his call, like his heart reaching for mine.

My chest cracked open with grief. I pressed my lips together, choking back a sob as I pulled the SIM card out with trembling fingers.

For a second, I hesitated—my whole being screaming don’t do this. But his stare was relentless.

With a broken cry, I pushed the window down, the rushing air hitting my face. I tossed the SIM card out. My heart shattered as the little chip disappeared into the void.

And then, with tears blurring my vision, I hurled the phone after it.

The thud of the window closing sounded like the sealing of my fate.

My hands collapsed into my lap, limp, trembling. Silent sobs wracked my chest as I whispered, so softly that only my shattered soul could hear:

"I’m sorry, Nathan..."